News

The US Secretary of State will on Wednesday outline fresh plans for an Israel-Palestinian peace process. Israel has accused the US of orchestrating Friday's UN Security Council resolution decrying its settlement program.

With just four weeks remaining before he leaves office, US Secretary of State John Kerry will on Wednesday lay out the next steps needed to push both Israel and Palestine leadership toward a two-state solution.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters Tuesday that Kerry believes "it is his duty in his remaining weeks and days as secretary of state to lay out what he believes is a way towards a two-state solution."

"It's always important to keep the process moving forward," Toner said. "We haven't given up on this and we don't think the Israelis and Palestinians should do either."

Kerry's final policy speech will come amid a furious Israeli government and a new low in relations between the Obama administration and Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US abstained in Friday's strongly-worded UN Security Council resolution, which decried Israel's settlements in the occupied West Bank territories and East Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation" of international law and demanded an end to settlement building. Although the US has long opposed the settlements, it has generally used its veto rights to diplomatically shield its ally from censure. Its decision to abstain saw the resolution pass by a 14-0 margin in the 15-member Security Council, the first UN resolution adopted since 1979 condemning Israel's settlement policy.

Watch video01:55

Share

Israel: Varied reactions to UN resolution

Israel: Varied reactions to UN resolution

Israel rebukes US veto

On Tuesday, Netanyahu's spokesman, David Keyes, said the Israeli government had received "ironclad" evidence from Arab sources that Washington had played an active role in drafting the resolution and "pushed hard for its eventual passage."

Toner on Tuesday denied that the Obama administration had pushed for the resolution and defended the decision to abstain, saying that the US wanted to "send a clear message about our concerns about settlement activity." Toner also repeatedly emphasized that the resolution was drafted by Egypt and the Palestinians, while the US only contributed on the language after the two countries' intention to go ahead with the vote was made abundantly clear. "The idea this was pre-cooked in advance is not accurate," he said.

Banking on Trump

The US is expected to take part in an international Middle East peace conference in Paris on January 15, which Israel fears could lead to further action being taken against it. The Israeli government has made no secret that it is banking on President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, to contain the damage.

Share

Israel: Netanyahu angry over UN resolution

Israel: Netanyahu angry over UN resolution

Israel plans settlement expansion

In defiance to Friday's vote, Israel could also advance plans to expand its settlement program and build thousands of new homes in annexed east Jerusalem, a mainly Palestinian sector of the city. According to Ir Amim, an NGO that monitors settlement building, a Jerusalem planning committee is expected on Wednesday to discuss issuing building permits for 618 housing units.

However, news agency AFP has reported that Jerusalem's deputy mayor, Meir Turjeman, has also sought to advance plans for some 5,600 further units. "I'm not concerned by the UN or anything else trying to dictate our actions in Jerusalem," Turjeman wrote on his Facebook page. "I hope the government and new US administration will give us the momentum to continue and make up for the shortage created over the eight years of the Obama administration."

dm/kl (AFP, AP, Reuters)

The high price of war in the Middle East

Rejoicing in Gaza

People celebrate the long-term ceasefire agreed upon by Israel and the militant Palestinians. The past 50 days of vicious fighting have come at a great price, in particular for the residents of the Gaza Strip.

The high price of war in the Middle East

Weeks of bloodshed

Above, the funeral of a two-year-old boy killed in southern Gaza in an air raid. According to the UN, the Israeli attacks killed more than 2,100 people, almost 500 of them children.

The high price of war in the Middle East

Homeless

Refugees find food and shelter in a UN school in Gaza City. Thousands of families have lost their homes and are now packed in overcrowded schools and emergency shelters.

The high price of war in the Middle East

Scarred for life

A doctor at the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City treats a child. According to Palestinian authorities, more than 11,000 people were injured in the war. Many will be disabled forever.

The high price of war in the Middle East

Power is scarce

Gaza's utility company and the water desalination plants have been heavily damaged. The consequences for public electricity and water supplies are disastrous.

The high price of war in the Middle East

Beware of the ruins

Israel says it bombed 5,230 targets in the Gaza Strip. The UN estimates the reconstruction costs at several billion euros. Deadly debris: Thousands of explosive devices are suspected to be hidden under the ruins.

The high price of war in the Middle East

A close shave

This apartment in Ashkelon was damaged by a Palestinian rocket. Thanks also to Israel's missile defence, the simple projectiles rarely cause damage or claim casualties.

The high price of war in the Middle East

Eternal grief

A family grieves at the funeral of a four-year-old Israeli boy who was killed in an attack launched from Gaza. Israel says militant Palestinians fired about 4,600 rockets into the country, killing six people.

The high price of war in the Middle East

Mourning with the troops

Israeli soldiers mourn the death of a comrade. 64 Israeli soldiers were killed in military operations in the most recent conflict. There is great public interest in honoring the soldiers at their funerals.

The high price of war in the Middle East

Targeting tunnels

Hamas fighters in a tunnel in Gaza: destroying the tunnel network was a key Israeli goal in the war. It is not clear how successful the mission was. Many tunnels reached into Israeli territory.

The high price of war in the Middle East

To the bitter end

Both sides intensified their attacks just before the truce took effect. Palestinian rockets killed two Israelis, while the Israeli Air Force targeted high-rises in Gaza City.